Published on: 2026-06-12
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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In Haiti – against the backdrop of rising sexual violence – the first government shelters for women and girls have opened. This was reported by the representative of the “UN Women” structure in this country, Mari Goretti Nduwayo, at a briefing in Geneva. According to her, the opening of shelters has become both a symbol of hope and a reminder of the scale of the threats faced by women and girls in Haiti.
Sexual violence is increasingly used by armed gangs as a tool to intimidate and control the population. Last year, the UN office in Haiti recorded 1,863 cases of sexual violence – 163 percent more than the previous year. Among the victims are women, girls, as well as several men and boys.
In the first months of 2026, sexual violence in Haiti accounted for more than 70 percent of all registered cases of gender-based violence. At the same time, cases of using digital technologies to injure images of such attacks with the aim of blackmail and humiliation of victims are being recorded.
The expansion of gang influence, previously concentrated in Porto-Príncipe, led to a mass displacement of the population: almost one and a half million people were forced to leave their homes, among them about 790 thousand women and girls.
Conditions in temporary accommodation places for displaced persons remain extremely unsafe. Most camps lack lighting, locks do not work on sanitary facilities, and there are no separate zones for women and men. A study conducted by the UN Women structure showed that cases of gender-based violence were recorded in all surveyed camps.
Psychological consequences of the traumatic event are often devastating for women: they are haunted by memories of the burnt houses, armed men who threatened them, and of close ones killed right before their eyes.
The economic situation in the country has sharply worsened in recent years. Before the displacement, most women had incomes from small trade or small-scale farming, but today more than 80 percent of them are deprived of work, and on them still falls the main burden of providing for their families.
Simultaneously, the destruction of the basic services system is taking place. More than 1,600 schools are closed, almost 40 percent of medical institutions in the capital are not functioning, access to water and sanitation remains extremely limited. Specialized assistance for survivors of violence – psychological, legal, medical – is available only in minimal amounts.
Despite the scale of the crisis, women are becoming key participants in local initiatives for humanitarian response and security provision. Their participation in camp committees grew from two percent in 2024 to more than forty in 2025. Women’s organizations provide support to those affected, help families receive financial aid and access to services, and also strengthen protection and recovery mechanisms in communities.
“Women and girls of Haiti show incredible resilience, but one resilience is not enough—they need safety, protection, and international solidarity,” emphasized Marie Goretti Nduwayo.
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